Narrowboat Firefly NZ..

Wednesday, 11 March 2015

Went on a mission over Cambridge way to check something out. I know your busting at the mystery and intrigue of what it was but I'm not telling......

Whilst there we strolled up and down some mid city streets and what an interesting place it is. A university town being largely occupied by broken arse students means their is a zillion push bikers commuting to and from the bottle stores and the quietness of pedal power means if you don't keep a sharp eye out whilst crossing roads you are likely to wear one. Silent Killers. Still it all adds to the setting along with he River Cam that flows through the town centre.

First building to catch the eye was the Fitzwilliam Museum. It was getting on in the day but there were still heaps of visitors coming and going. I wonder if the quoted numbers of visitors each year, 470,000, has anything to do with the Free entry. Makes for a nice change to be able to view for free.

From the street....

The columns and verandah look impressive...
As in anything you need to start somewhere and the first stone was placed in 1837 with the opening in 1848...

The ceiling of the verandah......

Tops of the columns and door way arches are so detailed...

From one side.....

These two Dudes were very hospitable......

Clean lines....

With no hint of whats through the doors...

The entry hall......No wonder it wasn't completed until 1875......

Marble and stained glass was stunning....

The light poured through the very top....

About 5 stories to the top....

Now we've seen a lot of architecture in the UK but I reckon......

This is tops... Unbelievable craftsman ship and visual effect...

Moving onto other rooms.....

More ceilings with style....

Art gallery around the lower and upper levels...

In this age of Slashers Flashers and Bashers it was surprising to be able to walk right up to....

Paintings by the likes of Monet and Picasso....

There was a so called security guard down one end of the gallery but one would have to have awoken him to tell of any goings on in the last twelve hours...

And then soon as I seen them I knew....dammit...

A couple by Paul Cezanne... Apples, He loved painting fruit and self portraits....A dead set giveaway....
plus his name was right there too..

A painting to capture the eye was.....

The Oak and The Reed, middle, by Achille - Etna Michallon....1796 - 1822.. sounds French because he was.. A lost talent I reckon dying aged 25 from Pneumonia...

Back out on the street and we checked out, free entry, a couple of the university grounds.

Different strokes for different folks but I never tire of viewing the old buildings, architecture and engineering feats such as canals and locks.... Its not about saying Why, but How....

In through the....

Oldest gatehouse in Cambridge.. 14th century....

Pembroke College....

Home to 700 plus students...

Buildings surround.....

The manicured green....

And standing on the other side...

The first chapel designed by Sir Christopher Wren...

Nice lamp and leadlight windows....

A path lined by...

Shaped Yew trees and a stone wall with character lead to... dunno where...

The layout of buildings lawns and courtyards are...

Reached through sculptured arches...

Moving on to...

Kings College..... Across the green a dinner for Lawyers was being held. Plenty of black capes and Real Leather shoes......

Time was getting on and we just missed being allowed to enter the grounds.....

Gate house entry...The college was founded in 1441 by Henry V1 and the chapel was finished in 1554 under the rule of Henry V111

College Chapel...

Waiting for some summer greenery....

Along the road....

Another gate house sporting a clock tower with Sun dials on each face...

Tuesday, 23 December 2014

Getting close to the end of another year and it's been a good one. Excellent summer, two in a row now, amazing and memorable sights from London to Bath to Leeds and places and detours on the way. Chuck in the awesome time we had with our "Summer Crew" of Nat and Bruce and catching up with old friends along the way make for a memorable year.
Lately it's been back to the work schedule until April ends but when the weathers crap you may as well be inside earning a quid.

The weathers been pretty mild of late, 12 - 13.5 C, but there has been colder days..

It's getting late...

About 4.30pm and it's dark with the ice starting to form on the parked cars...

Next day.....

Ice still on the ground at 2.30pm....

But the sun was shining....

On the other side of the road... Where's them bloody punters?....

A couple of three weeks ago Leonie baked up some treats as usual but in a larger quantity than the norm....

Then it was off to London to meet some cool dudes partying and working on their OE thing.

First stop....

A meeting in a "Makkas" with Nick to drop off the booty.....

We know Makkas tastes pretty ordinary so...

We sample some good Tucker...

Left Nick to transport the baking back to the flat. Apparently the other "Mates" never found out about the "Rocky Road".... Made plans to catch up later...

Leonie and me made our way to Camden Markets to grab a bite to eat...

Pleasing to emerge from the Underground to see that the cold brisk weather had.....

Deterred the others... Not.. Walking on the road dodging cars was the easiest option...

Spoilt for choice we decided on....

A Falafel for Leonie and a Lamb and barbeque veg, dish for me... Then headed and stood by an unfamiliar surrounding to graze... Camden Lock...
It's in the Blood.. can't keep away....

Decided to go across town to Harrods to check out the Xmas theme...
The tube was pretty packed and getting on through the ready to close doors was the norm...

With three stops to go....

How come this station is so deserted??..
I'll tell you why.. Because everyone else is on the last bloody tube.. Leonie decided in her wisdom to race two carriages along to board and by the time I graciously gave way to 63 AASSSHHOOOONNNS and then got my foot in the door it slammed shut with the best part of me still on the Bloody platform... Bye Bye.....

Anyway we were reunited, with the help of 3 St, Bernards and a man with a White stick, outside Harrods and then after getting to know each other we spent some time in store just looking.

In the food halls there are dining areas to indulge in your purchase after it has been cooked just the way you want it.
Whether it be Caviar, fish, pies or meats and salads I think a lot of them just like to "Be Seen" eating there.

So it was with fascination that we stood nearby......

The meat section where you select what type and size of cut you want and the butcher cuts to size then you take it to the chefs to have it cooked in front of you.
A couple from Asia, very well attired, made their selection. She chose a T Bone cut to size and when weighed the butcher said, " seventy six pounds" she said "thankyou thankyou".
His choice was Fillet, " AH little bigger please" and the butcher said "fifty seven pounds" and he said "thankyou, thankyou".
One hundred and thirty three quid and they still have to buy freak"n grub to garnish the plate.
And when the butcher asks how they would like them cooked they say " Medium to Well Done"...
Ruination.....
So back on the tube, together, and down town to check out some more Xmas scenery.

Up on the roof of...

John Lewis you could see across the London skyline and along Oxford St, below....

And being up so high...

The Snow was falling.....

Back down to Earth.....

The lights along Regent St, were starting to shine....

And at the intersection of Regent and Oxford....

It 's not all about the colour...

But there's more...

Light and colour with buses and Balls everywhere....

Later we caught up with.....

Nick and Ashton..... Bought some beers......

In a cosy corner pub then decided....

To drink them... and some more...

Back at the job a car parked next door at the garage....

A Reliant Scimitar......

Jurys out on the looks....

Back on the job in the office things can get pretty stressful
I mean what do I.....

Watch... Live racing or live darts... And to go and get another coffee.. Chance of missing a Checkout.....

Been a bit windy and stormy last couple of days...

Trees bending...

And clouds rolling in...

We got a nice surprise the other day....

A done by "Club Of Odd Volumes" tea towel with pictures taken from when Nat and Bruce were here on the NB in the summer.... Bloody Awesome....

So we'll get over Xmas and New Year then start counting down to the next adventure.....